Is Garbage Collection Finally Silent?

Volvo continues the electrification of its truck range, now including the nightmare of city dwellers: the garbage truck.

Who hasn’t been woken up by the sound of a garbage truck passing through their street at 6 a.m., with a noise level impossible to ignore? This is largely due to the internal combustion engine having to run at high revs to power the crushing mechanism.

This time could soon be over, Volvo beginning production of its new 100% electric range, which is much more discreet. The Volvo FM will obviously also spare the environment from pollutant particles emitted by diesel engines.

A study on the risk of noise exposure for garbage collectors and truck drivers has revealed noise levels ranging from 79 to 101.6 decibels, with peaks reaching up to 143.2 decibels! Therefore, this is also a public health and personnel safety issue.

Less dangerous for pedestrians?

The electrification of vehicles allows for a complete redesign of vehicle construction. Thus, the driver no longer needs to be perched above the engine for space-saving reasons. The cab can now be dramatically lowered, reducing the risk of poor visibility. Closer to the ground, the driver will have a better view of pedestrians, cyclists, and other constant hazards that proliferate in the city.

Modernization also includes cameras installed everywhere to help reduce blind spots and associated risks.

No range issues?

In general, a garbage truck travels short distances daily. However, its energy consumption is high due to the waste crushing mechanism. To counter this, the Volvo FM offers up to 4 batteries with a total capacity of 360 kWh. This allows for a range of up to 200 km, while the payload capacity can vary from 19 to 32 tons depending on wheel configuration. In all cases, the electric motor generates 330 kW, or 450 horsepower, with a massive amount of torque at very low speeds.

Charging supports up to 250 kW in DC fast charging, or 43 kW in AC when back at the depot.

The electrification of vehicles is taking many forms, and it’s ultimately very exciting.

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